Military rounds up protestors

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A Thai military commander said Tuesday about 1,300 people had
been detained following a crackdown on protesters in the country's
Muslim-dominated south.

General Sirichai Thanyasiri said it was unclear how many died in
the violence overnight after a general said earlier that six were
killed.

"The leaders and core members who created the riot will be put
on trial and the unwitting followers will be released soon, but I
cannot say exactly when," said General Sirichai, the commander of a
new task force to improve security in the southern provinces.

Police and military forces Monday fired warning shots and used
water cannons and tear gas to disperse about 2,000 angry Muslim
youths who demonstrated for about six hours outside a police
station in Narathiwat province's Takbai province.

Violence erupted when protesters demanded the release of six men
detained on suspicion of stealing state-issued weapons from defence
volunteers, though officials said the suspects had already been
transferred to the provincial capital.

The detainees are being held at three army camps in Pattani
province, General Sirichai told reporters at a press briefing. He
added that authorities had seized four assault rifles from
them.

It was unclear how many people were killed and injured in the
melee, he said.

Army commander General Pisarn Wattanawongkhiri said earlier
today that six people had died and "several" were injured in the
violence.

Between 300 and 400 people were arrested by troops, he said.

Sirichai said the number of detainees jumped dramatically
because troops continued to round up protesters for about two hours
after they were dispersed.